Professor Ben Gershman recently talked to The Christian Science Monitor about California Justice Cantil-Sakauye’s confrontation with the State Legislature over budget cuts in the court system.

In her recent “State of the Judiciary” speech, Justice Cantil-Sakauye criticized California’s Legislature over budget issues. In turn, the judge received criticism for confronting the Legislature and overstepping her position as a judge.

Local media compared Justice Cantil-Sakauye’s remarks to those of Justice Rose Byrd, who was vocal in her opposition to the death penalty. Justice Byrd was voted out of office for her comments — the only chief justice in California history to be removed from this position.

Professor Gershman concluded, “My sense is that she is not violating an ethical code at all, but rather has every right and proper motive to speak out in a crisis. Rose Bird was a polarizing figure because of her views on a very liberal California Supreme Court. By contrast, Cantil-Sakauye is trying to save the court system.”